Rosberg expects equality with Schumacher

Nico Rosberg is confident that him and Michael Schumacher will be on “equal footing” in the Mercedes team next year.

Schumacher has a history of being favoured over his team-mate, most notably with Rubens Barrichello in Ferrari from 2000 to 2005. However, Nico does not believe such an occurence will happen in Mercedes. In an interview with Fox Sports, he said:

“We are on an equal footing, it’s always been like that at Mercedes – that’s their philosophy.”

“Your team-mate is the driver you always compare yourself to because he has the same car. That’s why my aim is to be in front of him as often as possible.”

However, he is certainly in a fighting mood, when he talked to Salzburger Nachrichten. He said: “Of course I want to beat any teammate, that’s the direct confrontation, the driver has the same equipment. A little egotism is involved here.”

Rosberg has yet to win a race, but has shown fine form in a sometimes poor Williams over the years. He was one of the first drivers to announce that he would be at the first test in Valencia.